Method of producing cigars, cigarettes, or the like



Oct. 27, 1931.

w. F. PRIDE 1,829,454

METHOD OF PRODUCING CIGARS, ClGARETTES, OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 29 1930 (il-wwf o1,

Wzl'am Pride 3513 @mfp/@f5 Patented ou. 27, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM F. PRIDE, OF TAMPA, FLORIDA Application led December 29, 1930. Serial No. 505,393.

The invention relates to a method of producing a smokers article as a cigar, cigarette, or the like, and has as an object the provision of a method of pre-forming such an article with a mouthpiece vforming a unit therewith.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of manufacturing a cigar, cigarette, or the like with a mouthpiece bullt into the same in such manner that a good draft will be ensured.

It is a further object of the invention t 0 provide a method of manufacture of an article of the class referred to embodying the steps that will not unduly increase the cost of manufacture. i

Further objects of the invention will appear from the .following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings showing apparatus for carrying out the steps of the method and showing the completed article, and wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a form or mold used in the method;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the article showing apin used in the method in place; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the completed article.

In carrying out the step of the method, a

.mold 10 is shown, which mold comprises a portion 11 for forming the body of a. bunch 12 to form a portion of the completed article manufactured according to the method of the invention, and a portion 13 for'pre-forming a reduced portion 14 upon the bunch, the portions 11 and 13 of the mold joining at an abrupt shoulder 15 whereby to pre-form a shoulder 16 upon the bunch at the juncture between the reduced portion and the body of the pack.

The halves of the mold 10 are shown as hinged together at 17 whereby the assembled bunch may be laid into one-half of the mold and the other half may be closed thereon in a well known manner, it being understood that the bunch may be allowed to remain in the mold for a desirable length of time to cause it to become set in this molded form.

While only one cavity is shown in the mold 10, it will be obvious that a plurality of such mold cavities may be provided if desired. When the bunch has been formed in the mold 10, it is separately taken, the reduced portion 13 inserted into a socket 18 in a preferably rigid mouthpiece, 19, and a pin 20 desirably formed with a head 21 is inserted into the bore of the mouthpiece 19 and forced into the reduced portion 14 desirably to a point slightly in advance of the shoulder 16. The use of the pin 20 has two functions. First, to ensure a` good draft when the artcle is consumed by the user, and second, to provide rigidity between the bunch and mouthpiece while placing the wrapper.

With the pin 20 in place a wrapper 22 is applied over the surface of the bunch, the joint between the bunch and the mouthpiece and over a portion of the surface of the mouthpiece, desirably to the line 23 when a knife is run around the surface of the mouthpiece at the line 23 to trim the wrapper and provide a neat edge at the end of the wrapper.

`The pin 20 is then removed and the device is ready for consumption.

While the bunch is enclosed in the mold the ends are trimmed flush with the ends of the mold and the length of the portion 13 of the mold is such that the reduced portion will terminate short of the bottom of the socket 18 of the mouthpiece, thereby providing a draft equalizing cavity at the base of the socket.

A function of the use of the pin 20 is to ensure that any compression of the bunch by the act of applying the mouthpiece will not interfere with the draft, the passage provided by Withdrawal of the pin together with the presence of the cavity referred to in the socket 18 at the end of the pack ensuring that a good draft will always be provided.

After the article has been wrapped and completed with the pin in place, the device is placed in a gauge and the outer end of the article is trimmed to length, the head 21 of the pin forming a portion of the trimmed length.

If a wrapper omits to insert the pin 20 before wrapping the article and trimming the same, the length of the completed article will `capable of commercial use.

immediately show a variance from those properly formed, thus providing a ready check upon the workman to show whether the device has been correctly manufactured.

I am aware that it has been proposed to manufacture articles of this character with a mouthpiece supplied during the process of manufacture but no article or method of which I am aware has been such as to be One difficulty has been that the insertion of the end of the bunch into the mouthpiece has compressed the material of the bunch in such manner as to prohibit a uniform production of articles each having a free draft.

The steps of the method necessary to carry out in each of the devices heretofore known of which I am aware have been such that the article could not be commercially produced. The steps of the method provided by the present invention are such that any compe- /tent cigar maker can turn out'linished articles in-such quantities as to be capable of commercial exploitation.

Minor changes may be made in the steps or method of the invention within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. The method of forming a smoking article which comprises preeforming a bunch with a reduced portion, fitting a mouthpiece upon said reduced portion without compression of the material of the portion thereby and applying a wrapper to said bunch and a portion of the mouthpiece and over the joint therebetween.

2. The method of forming a smoking article which comprises pre-forming a bunch With a reduced portion at one end joining the body thereof at an abrupt shoulder, fitting a mouthpiece upon said reduced portion with its rim in contact with said shoulder and wrapping said bunch and a portion of said mouthpiece as a unit.

3. The method of forming a smoking article which comprises pre-forming a bunch with a reduced portion at one end, fitting a mouthpiece upon said reduced portion, the external diameter of the mouthpiece at the joint between the same and the bunch being substantially that of the body of the bunch at the joint, inserting a pin in the bore of the mouthpiece and into the material of the reduced portion to form a draft passage, wrapping the bunch and a portion of the mouthpiece as a unit with the pin in place.

4. The method of forming a smoking article which comprises pre-forming a bunch with a reduced end portion joining the body thereof at an abrupt shoulder, inserting said reduced portion into a mouthpiece with the end of the latter abutting said shoulder, inserting the shank of a pin, formed with a head, into the bore of said mouthpiece, the

shank of said pin piercing said reduced portion and said head abutting the bore end of said mouthpiece, placing a wrapper on said bunch and a portion of said mouthpiece, trimming the article to a standard length including the thickness of said head, and removing the pin.

5. The method of forming a smoking article which comprises, preforming a bunch with a cylindrical end portion of less diameter than the body thereof and joining said body portion at an abrupt shoulder, fitting a mouthpiece formed with a cylindrical socket upon said reduced portion, the external diameter of the mouthpiece at the joint between the same and the bunch being substantially that of the body of the bunch at the joint, inserting a pin in the bore of the mouthpiece and into the material of the reduced portion to form a draft passage, wrapping the bunch and a portion of the mouthpiece as a unit with the pin in place.

WILLIAM F. PRIDE. 

